The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-16
BIRDS OF BEAUTY AND SENSE
Habits e. the Brilliant Parrakeet, a
Family Once Numerous in Indiana.
The Remarkable Social Characteristics of the
Bird-Tbo Cause of Its Disappear
ance from This State.

duet. technically, the conurus Caroinensis. In
diana was ever the favorite home of the para
kset 1t has now migrated to other and SIMMER
chimes, aud only the older inhabitants. those OF
more than forty years ago, have memories OF this
bird. All ornithol,2ists have taken pleasure IN
studying the bird, in admiringits beauty and Its
actions, guided by reason. as it would seem,
rather than by instinct. Even Audubon hum
bly, begged pardon for giving its color so minute
~ and elegantly.
''These birds congregated along the banks of
streams and rivers between the Ohio and it's
tributaries in Indiana. Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Kentucky, and thence west and southwest.
They werc social BIRDS aud went in hocks of
rom twenty to hundred more. From the
beak to the end Of the tail they were from
twelve to fourteen inches in length, with
little greater spread Of wing. The beak was
booked of a creamy canary color. The front
lace and crest were ruby red; the back Of the
head and throat wore royal circlet Of bright
gold. Their eyes were keen and brilliant.
The remainder of the body and wings
was Of the brightest emerald hue, fecked with
eseutcheons Of blue-black, tho tail pointed,
green, with an occasional blueblack feather.
n u0 cSCutCucOES Ou tuclF wings wore uldChs
lustrous as richest turquoise. No bird in the
world was decked with such brilliant and radiant
solors and 80 variegated. Their feet, like other
parrots were divided into prehense toes. better
suited to climbing and suspsrsory purposes than
to walking. Hence, while graceful on the wing,
shey were clumsy and ridiculous in movement
upon the ground.
'Their instincts were kind in loving care for
each other. Even chance acduaintapces seemed
to delight in fondling each other. nesting their
heads and beaks beneath and with the pumage
of one another, and no effort was too great whom
one was wounded for his comrades to extend in
their way of coincidence or succor. A hunter
shooting at fock might strike down two or
three The remainder, called by their cries,
would rally around them, Offering their consol-
Ing sympathy and trying to help them. They
could scarcely be driven away in such cases, so
that the sportsman could easily destroy the
whole flock. Even the hardest hearted hunter
Would be ashamed to take advantage of sucir
prey rs this or kill them while thus engaged in
Almost human mnistratons of mercy.
ZIP captivity brood of nestlings captured by
Mr.. William B. Seward, OF the Board of State
house Commissioners, lived as affectionately to-
kether as brothers and sisters should, but so sell
dom do. If at any time any accident happened
TO one of the family, or one escaped from con-
fnement, as did happen, not alone the house
bold, but the neighborhood was alarmed by their
Eutcries. They were miserable until the escaped
bird was found and returned, when quiet and
Happiness werc at once restored. These captives
Recognized their master and all other friends
ynd showed especial affection toward them, while
= strangers they would give no such confidence.
Fhese members of the scansorial family were es
tect8lly expert in various acrobatic and funam
kulistic feats. They would climb up q small
Rrip md RI faka tcp 01iOhk in
lojng as monkeys do in similar exercises.
"As a boy, from 1884 to 1874, / was accus-
Jomed, daily, to seeing focks Of from thirty 20
Atty parrakeets on my fathers farm in Yer
ipl6rs, like polished gems, flashed royalty in the
sky, or when they settled npon tree, gave a
glowing bouquet of color They were somewhat
mischevous. and in shock of wheat
h appeared to show that they could do
Il. and not that they desired it as food
While fond of fruit, and grain. and nuts they
would investigate the apple and cherry trees, and
more for the sport Of the thing than for any 9th
Dr. reason. In fact, they seemed to be fond of
practical jokes and of exhibiting their
skill to their audience whether of birds or men.
While graceful as Frenchman in their bows
and motions, they would at times be violent
In tone and gestculation excited German.
Their shining plumage was not simply matter
of choice. During ordinary weather they assem-
bled once each day, as remember, on asmall elm
tree. not than fifty feet high,
immediately above a clear, swift flowing spring
branch. The place was probably selected be-
eause the mass of roots formed clear solid
landing place. After passing the compliments
ps the season. details of FIVE or six would &C
watch while they bathed. The process of bath
ING was not simply fiutter and splash Of The
Wings, but the whole body, INCLUDING
zach individual feather, was cleansed
~ an1 Arbt
Tho treetop reaGjusted thoroughly with the
nolishing Of their tongues that each feather
leemed vanished TIE work was completed al
q the head by rubbing it against the wing ant
jheir com panions which seemed always willing
70 assist in this firing. During the warm days
IF GUNNER it appeared to me that this batl
occurred twice each day, nor was it one focl
tply that frequented this chosen spot, bu
a0zens of hocks.
GAS before mentioned, their favorte local
fics were along. rivers and streams will
hw Sycamore trees, which often pave a cayit!
# from two to ten feet reaching from tn
3round to a height of from twenty to fifty feet
broken limb would make doorway. In thu
ivening they would begin to gather, and as dark
Jess approached, pass into their chamber unit
III had gone in that there was room for Other.
eoQld cluster on the outside about the doorwa,
}hU they were there almost as thick as bees
Audubon and Wilson suspected that the.
Nposed suspended in some manner by thei
bills Ip 1912 Return Richmond, of Lodi, Ind.
but down, In the cold weather Of winter, syca
more tree some four Sect in diameter Tn
)arraKeet was supposed, you will understand, Z
be migratory bird. In this he1loy
trunk he found hundreds of para
keets in quiescent or semi-torpi
: condition The weather was too col
Tor the birds to fly or even to make any exertio
10 escape. In those days people were poor. an
There were no cages about. Mr.. Richmond c.
eff, with his saw. section of the hollow runl
homo Ave feet long cut out a door way, en-
loot bv two in SIZE nailed over it wire scree
" his tanning MILL rolled this cunbersom
tage into the house. and placed in
dozen of the birds. They soon began t
lnjoy the feed of fEpis, hockberries and nuts h
Absolutely the disputed question to how the
Mspt. At night they never rested on a perch